Method of mounting assist grip and mounting structure thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved method of mounting an assist grip to a body panel and related mounting structure elements that provide a removable attachment between the assist grip and the body panel and that simplify the manufacture of the body panel as well as the assembly and disassembly of the assist grip to the body panel.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An assembly for removably mounting a fixture including an assist grip and an interior panel to a body panel comprising: 
       an intermediate attachment member being configured for attachment of the fixture adjacent a first face of the intermediate attachment member;  
       a clip being removably fastened to a second face of the intermediate attachment member, the clip comprising both a resilient locking member and a stopping member, the locking member configured for insertion into a hole in the body panel and the stopping member being configured to prevent entry into the hole,  
       wherein the resilient locking member is compressed during at least a final portion of its insertion into the hole and expands after being inserted completely through the hole to engage a back portion of the body panel adjacent the hole to thereby prevent the clip from being withdrawn from the hole,  
       wherein the stopping member contacts the front portion of the body panel adjacent the hole and thereby prevents the clip from being inserted further into the hole, the stopping member contacts the front portion of the body panel as the resilient locking member expands to contact the back portion of the body panel, thereby fixing the clip within the hole in the body panel, and the intermediate attachment member further includes an engaging claw capable of engaging a peripheral section of a penetrating hole of the interior panel on a face of the interior panel opposed to the body panel to integrate the assist grip and the interior panel into the fixture, the fixture being attachable to the body panel by the clip.  
     
     
       2. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging claw is resilient, thereby enabling the engaging claw to be inserted through the penetrating hole of the interior panel and to subsequently engage the peripheral section of the penetrating hole of the interior panel on the face of the interior panel opposed to the body panel.